Ave Maris Stella

Vesper hymn to Mary (L)

Choral level of difficulty: 1 (5 greatest)

A simple chordal setting of these lovely words in praise of the Virgin Mary. MacMillan gives very helpful and evocative tips about colours like ‘warm’ and ‘misterioso’ at key points. At the end the texture is enriched by the soprano line taking off on a soaring descant up to a top A before subsiding to a quiet D major chord for the end.

Repertoire Note by Paul Spicer